Go and Do

Oktoberfest at Old World runs until Oct. 27. Here are some of the activities to look out for.

Wednesdays and Thursdays: 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Oktoberfest is open to those 21 and under and admission is free. Activities include beer tasting, food trucks and German bands.

Fridays and Saturdays: 6:30 p.m.- 1 a.m.

These nights are 21 and over and a $20 admission. Activities include German bands and beer contests.

Sundays: 2-7:30 p.m.

Family day cost is adults $5 and children $2. Children under age 5 are free. Activities include Dachshund races at 3 p.m., bands, bounce houses, carnival games and performances by dance groups.

Deutsche sollten Sie wissen (German you should know)

Here are some phrases and words used at Oktoberfest in Munich that you can try out here in Surf City.

The locals don't call their celebration Oktoberfest; they call it "Wiesn" after the fields the first festival was held, Theresienwiese.

"O'zapft is!" translates to "It's tapped!" The mayor of Munich yells this after the first keg of beer is tapped to kick off Oktoberfest.

"Bierleichen" is a term the Germans use to describe young people who overestimate their ability to handle their alcohol and pass out in public.

When clinking beer glasses, try saying "Prost!" instead of "Cheers!"

What is Oktoberfest?

The first Oktoberfest was held on Oct. 18, 1810 in Munich, Germany as a celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

The following year, Oktoberfest was canceled because of Bavaria's involvement in the Napoleonic War, but in 1819 the people of Munich resurrected the celebration.

Oktoberfest in Munich typically kicks off at the end of September and runs through the first week of October. This time period was chosen because of the ideal weather this time of year.

The annual festival continued and in 1887 breweries and local bands became a mainstay of the event. In 1910, Oktoberfest celebrated 100 years by pouring 120,000 liters of beer.

Since its inception, Oktoberfest has been canceled 24 times because of wars, disease and other emergencies.

Today, Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival that draws millions from around the world to celebrate with beer, an overabundance of German food such as Weisswurst and Sauerkraut, and traditional music.

Source: Ofest.com

Voices

"This is a great occasion and it's the end of the summer and we get to harvest all these wonderful bounties. There's sausages and friendship amongst men. It's nice that we can enjoy the shared cultural heritage."

– Harry Winston, Huntington Beach

"I've been coming out for years, before I was even allowed to drink. It's just about having a beer with the buddies."

– Victor Gregory, Huntington Beach

"My mom and dad are from Germany, so it's culturally significant. I'm here for the beer."

– Craig Schnabel, Huntington Beach

"We got here early today for the free meal, but it's better to come at night. We'll start dancing later – once I've got enough drinks in me."

– Sheri McBride, Lakewood

"It's better to come at night. It doesn't usually get too rough. Friday and Saturday are the best nights to come if you want to party."

– Jessica Brooks, Lakewood

Every fall, the Bavarian-themed village set on a 1-acre patch in Huntington Beach draws more than 40,000 people to celebrate Oktoberfest.

Old World Village has been hosting the event since opening its doors in 1978. Each year, organizers aim to keep the event an authentic celebration with traditional German fare, music and, of course, beer.

The seven-week celebration that kicked off Sept. 7 includes nights targeted to an adults-only crowd and family-friendly days that include Dachshund races and carnival games.

On a recent Thursday, people gathered in the bier garten to dine on sauerkraut and sausage with an accompanying glass of beer. In the background, oompah band Klaustaler – whose members traveled all the way from Germany to perform in Huntington Beach – played while clad in lederhosen.

Shot girls with Jagermeister shots in test tubes walked around in traditional German dirndl dresses. People gathered around waist-high tables to eat standing up or sat at picnic tables to enjoy their food and drink.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of Old World Village and its Oktoberfest, a celebration started by a German immigrant who wanted to bring a piece of his home country to Huntington Beach.

German developer Josef Bischof and his wife, Dolores, came to the U.S. in 1952 and constructed the Bavarian village on Center Avenue with its cobblestone streets, imported lanterns, more than 50 shops with living spaces on top, a church, a restaurant and a market.

Dolores Bischof died in September 2012. Josef Bischof still lives in Old World and now his children run operations, including Oktoberfest.

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